Operatives belonging to Operation Fansan Yamma successfully secured the release of eleven abductees across two distinct clearance missions within the Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. These security interventions occurred on October 30 and 31, 2026, following fierce engagements with armed criminal gangs operating in the region.
Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, the spokesperson for the 8 Division headquartered in Sokoto, made this known through an official media release on Sunday. The military actions highlight ongoing efforts by security agencies to tackle banditry and restore public safety across northwestern Nigeria.
How did the first rescue operation unfold?
The initial security intervention was triggered by an urgent distress report indicating that armed hoodlums had barricaded the highway leading to Ribah town with the intention of raiding the community.
Upon arriving at the location, military patrols discovered that several locals had already been seized, while the assailants left behind multiple motorcycles. The combat troops immediately launched a pursuit, engaging the outlaws in a firefight that compelled the criminals to abandon seven captives.
The liberated individuals were identified as Sa’adu Bala, Dantani Yahyi, Nura Musa, Nasiru Muhammad, Abdulakeem Abubakar, Abdulahi Maikudi, and Zaki Gom. Authorities confirmed that all seven persons have since been safely reunited with their respective families.
What happened during the second operation in Wasagu?
In a parallel incident near Wasagu, troops carrying out regular patrol duties came under sudden gunfire from suspected insurgent elements. The service personnel successfully repelled the ambush, forcing the attackers to retreat and leave behind four additional hostages.
According to military reports, these four victims had been rounded up from their agricultural farmlands within Wasagu village before the rapid intervention of the security forces.
This second group of rescued persons comprised Lawali Ali, Samaila Shuaibu, Kasimu Shuaibu, and Aliyu Bala, all of whom reside in Wasagu village. They were subsequently handed over to the local community leadership.
Reacting to the developments, the military leadership reiterated its dedication to maintaining sustained pressure against bandits and other threat actors, assuring residents that measures to safeguard lives and property remain unyielding.